guide to the international baccalaureate at north shore

Guide to the International

Baccalaureate

at North Shore High

School

The IB Learner Profile

Students who participate in IB Programs striveto become:

Inquirers

Their natural curiosity is nurtured. They acquire the skills necessary to conduct constructive inquiry and research, and become independent active learners. They actively enjoy learning and this love of learning will be sustained throughout their lives.

Knowledgeable

They explore concepts, ideas and issues which have global relevance and importance. In so doing, they acquire, and are able to make use of, a significant body of knowledge across a range of disciplines.

Critical Thinkers

They exercise initiative in applying thinking skills critically and creatively to approach complex problems and make reasoned decisions.

Communicators

They understand and express ideas and information confidently and creatively in more than one language and in a variety of modes of communication.

Risk-Takers

They approach unfamiliar situations with confidence and forethought, and have the independence of spirit to explore new roles, ideas and strategies. They are courageous and articulate in defending those things in which they believe.

Principled

They have sound grasp of the principals of moral reasoning. They have integrity, honesty, a sense of fairness and justice and respect for the dignity of the individual.

Caring

They show empathy, compassion and respect towards the needs and feelings of others. They have a personal commitment to action and service to make a positive difference to the environment and to the lives of others.

Open-minded

Through an understanding and appreciation of their own culture, they are open to perspectives, values and traditions of other individuals and cultures and are accustomed to seeking and considering a range of points of view.

Well-balanced

They understand the importance of physical and mental balance and personal well-being for themselves and others. They demonstrate perseverance and self-discipline.

Reflective

They give thoughtful consideration to their own learning and personal development. They are able to analyze their strengths and weaknesses in a constructive manner.

IB Options at North Shore High School

The Diploma Program is designed to engage students in a cohesive experience that hones their skills as learners, fosters interdisciplinary learning, and prepares them for global citizenship in the 21st century. Students will spend their junior and senior years immersed in studies and experiences that will ready them for college and beyond. Juniors and Seniors who engage in the Diploma Program are highly motivated students of varying educational backgrounds, abilities, and interests. Students can choose two paths of study within IB. They may choose to be a full Diploma Candidate or they may choose to be a Certificate Candidate. While the Diploma Candidate will engage in a comprehensive program of study, Certificate Candidates will be exposed to individual courses of study with core aspects of the full program woven throughout the course.

Diploma Candidate

1. The diploma program, or DP, is built upon a philosophy of interdisciplinary, college level course work at the heart of which is the "core": Theory of Knowledge, Extended Essay and CAS (creativity - action - service)

Theory of Knowledge (TOK): this course centers around critical thinking. Students inquire into the "nature of knowing" - how do you know what you know? What affects what you know and how you know it? This is a course unto itself as well as an integral part of all IB courses.

Extended Essay (EE): students engage in mentored independent research through an in-depth study of a self-generated question relating to one of the subjects they are studying culminating in a 4,000 word essay.

CAS: involves students in a range of activities alongside their academic schedule. To complete this requirement, students must exhibit creative thinking, action through a healthy lifestyle and physical activity, and service with the community. This can all be done through a well thought out community service project, or in smaller parts.

All diploma candidates will complete these over the course of junior and senior years. While Theory of Knowledge will be part of their class schedule, CAS and the Extended Essay are completed independently under the guidance of the CAS Coordinator and the Extended Essay supervisor. 2. IB courses may be offered at the Higher Level or at the Standard Level. Higher Level: 2 year course, 240 hours Standard Level: 1 or 2 years, 150 hours.

3. In addition to the core, students will choose one course from each of the six groups below. They must take a minimum of 3, but no more than 4, at the Higher Level (HL) and 3, but no less than 2, at the Standard Level (SL). These courses culminate in an exam that may qualify the student to receive college credit. In lieu of a course from Group 6, students may choose an additional course from one of the other five groups. Elements and philosophy from Theory of Knowledge, as well as a sense of global mindedness, will be incorporated into each of the six groups' coursework. The groups and course offerings are as follows: Group 1: (English) Studies in Language and Literature

Language and Literature HL

Group 2: (World Languages) Language Acquisition

French

Italian

Spanish

Latin All offered at both the HL and SL levels Group 3: (Social Sciences) Individuals and Societies

History of the Americas HL (HOTA) Social and Cultural Anthropology SL

Group 4: Experimental Sciences

Biology HL

Chemistry SL

Environmental Systems and Societies SL

Physics HL Group 5: Mathematics and Computer Science

Mathematics SL

Mathematical Studies SL Group 6: The Arts

Visual Arts HL/SL

Music SL

Theater SL

Certificate Candidate

Should a student choose not to engage in the full Diploma Program, they may choose to take any singular course, or courses, listed for an individual certificate in each. This does not include the core as explained above. As with the Diploma Program, these courses culminate in an exam that may qualify the student to receive college credit

Sample Schedules

As students have differing academic strengths and interests, their course of study would be built accordingly. Below, are samples of possible student schedules reflecting various areas of focus. To meet graduation requirements, all juniors and seniors must take two years of English and Social Studies. To this end, Language and Literature and History of the Americas will both be taken as two year Higher Level courses. Thus, the third and possible fourth Higher Level courses will be chosen from Group 2 (World Language), Group 4 (Experimental Sciences), or Group 6 (the Arts). *All sample schedules are designed with three Higher Level and three Standard Level Courses.

1. Diploma Candidate – All Groups

Group 6: Visual Arts or Theater

This student chooses to pursue a program that exposes them to academic experiences in all areas of study, including the arts. They are interested and/or have exhibited a talent in the Visual Arts or Theater and place a slight emphasis on science by challenging their third Higher Level course in Biology or Physics.

*Note: Classes in an actual student’s schedule may not be placed in the periods in which they appear in this sample.

Period Level Junior Year Senior Year 1 HL History of the Americas

Year 1

History of the Americas Year 2

2 SL World Languages Year 1

World Languages Year 2

3 HL Language and Literature Year 1

Language and Literature Year 2

4 Phys Ed/Science Lab

Phys Ed/Science Lab

5 HL IB Biology Year 1 or IB Physics Year 1

IB Biology Year 2 or IB Physics Year 2

6 Lunch

Lunch

7 Fall Spring Math Lab Theory of Knowledge

Fall Spring Theory of Elective

Knowledge

8 SL Mathematics or Mathematical Studies

AP Calculus AB or BC AP Statistics Other School elective

9 SL Visual Arts or Theater Visual Arts or Theater

2. Diploma Candidate – All Groups

Group 6: Music

This student chooses to pursue a program that exposes them to academic experiences in all areas of study, including the arts. They are interested and/or have exhibited a talent in Music and may place a slight emphasis on science by challenging their third Higher Level course in Biology or Physics.


Period Level Junior Year Senior Year 0

Alternate Days

SL

IB Music Year 1

IB Music Year 2

1 HL IB HOTA – Year 1

IB HOTA – Year 2

2 HL World Language World Language

3 Science Lab/Phys Ed

Science Lab/Phys Ed

4 HL/SL *SL will be 1 Yr

IB Bio or Physics Year 1(HL) Or IB Chemistry or Environmental (SL)

IB Bio or Physics Year 2 (HL) Or Any non-IB school course for which they meet eligibility

5

Lunch

Lunch

6

Band/Orchestra

Band/Orchestra

7

Fall Spring Math Lab Theory of

Knowledge

Fall Spring Theory of Elective Knowledge

8

SL Mathematics or Mathematical Studies


9

HL IB Language and Literature

IB Language and Literature

3. Diploma Candidate – All Groups – Language and Arts Emphasis

This student chooses to pursue a program that exposes them to academic experiences in all areas of study, including the arts. They are interested and/or have exhibited a talent in the Visual Arts or Theater and place a slight emphasis on World Language by challenging their third Higher Level course in French, Spanish, Italian, or Latin.


Period Level Junior Year Senior Year 1 HL Language and Literature

Year 1


2 HL History of the Americas Year 1


3 SL 1 Yr

Mathematics or Mathematical Studies




5 SL 1 Yr

IB Environmental IB Chemistry

*If choosing Environmental or Chemistry Junior Year as SL Science, this period can be used for any non IB school course for which they meet eligibility.

6 Science Lab / Phys Ed

Physical Education on alternate days

7 Lunch

Lunch

8 SL Group 6 Theater or Visual Arts Yr 1

Group 6 Theater or Visual Arts Yr 2

9 HL World Languages

World Languages

4. Diploma Candidate – Science Emphasis

This student has an interest and academic strength in science. They have chosen to pursue their third higher level course in Biology or Physics as well as an additional science in place of a course in the arts.


Period Level Junior Year Senior Year 1 HL Language and Literature Year 1




3 SL 1 Yr


AP Calculus or (Alternate HS Math Course)






Science Lab / Phys Ed

7 Lunch(Alternate Days) Science Lab (Alternate Days)

Lunch

8 SL 1 Yr

9 SL World Language Year 1

World Language Year 2

* IB Environmental or IB Chemistry as second SL

Science Junior or Senior Year. HL Physics is also a

possibility. When choosing a one year, the alternate

year this period can be used for any non IB school

course for which they meet eligibility.

5. Diploma Candidate – Social Science Emphasis

This student has an interest and academic strength in the social sciences. They have

chosen to study Social and Cultural Anthropology in addition to History of the Americas

in place of a course in the arts. They are also strong in experimental science and have

chosen their third Higher Level course in Biology or Physics.






3 SL I yr





Knowledge




Science Lab/Phys Ed

7 Lunch

Lunch

8 SL 1 Yr

IB Social and Cultural Anthropology

*This period can be used for any non-IB school course for which they meet eligibility



6. Diploma Candidate – Social Science and Language

Emphasis

This student has an interest and academic strength in the social sciences. They have

chosen to study Social and Cultural Anthropology in addition to History of the Americas

in place of a course in the arts. They are also strong in language acquisition and have

chosen their third Higher Level course in World Language.






3 SL 1 Yr





5 HL IB Biology Year 1 Or IB Physics Year 1

IB Biology Year 2 Or IB Physics Year 2


Science Lab / Phys Ed

7 Lunch

Lunch

8 SL 1 Yr

IB Social and Cultural Anthropology

*This period can be used for any non IB school course for which they meet eligibility.



7. Diploma Candidate – Language Emphasis

This student has an interest and academic strength in language acquisition. They have

chosen to study a second World Language in place of a course in the arts. They have

also chosen their third Higher Level course in World Language.



Year 1




3 SL 1 Yr



4 Fall Spring Math Lab Theory of Mathematics SL Knowledge


Knowledge

5 SL 1 Yr

IB Environmental Or IB Chemistry

*If choosing Environmental or Chemistry Junior Year as SL Science, this period can be used for any non IB school course for which they meet eligibility.


Phys Ed alternate Days

7 Lunch

Lunch

8 HL World Languages 1 Year 1

World Languages 1 Year 2

9 SL World Language 2 Year 1

World Language 2 Year 2

The following schedules represent students who opt for individual certificate courses and not the full diploma program. These are only a few of the combinations possible and do not represent all of the possible options.

8. Certificate Candidate

This student has an interest and academic strength in the Humanities. They have chosen to study Language and Literature and History of the Americas at the IB level. They have also chosen IB Social and Cultural Anthropology as an elective in their senior year.


Period Level Junior Year Senior Year 1 HL IB Language and Literature

Year 1

IB Language and Literature Year 2

2 HL IB History of the Americas Year 1

IB History of the Americas Year 2

3 Elective

SL 1 Yr: IBSocial and Cultural Anthropology

4 Spanish 4

Spanish 5

5 Physics– R

Environmental - R

6 Physical Education / Lab

Physical Education / Lab

7 Lunch

Lunch

8 Precalculus - R

Calculus - R

9 Orchestra

Orchestra


This student has an interest and academic strength in the Humanities as well as science. They have chosen to study Language and Literature and History of the Americas at the IB level. They have also chosen two IB science courses in Chemistry and Environmental Systems and Societies in junior and senior year respectively.


Period Level Junior Year Senior Year 1 HL IB Language and Literature

Year 1

IB Language and Literature Year 2



3 Elective

Elective

4 Italian 4

Italian 5/AP

5 SL 1 Yr

IB Chemistry

IB Environmental Systems and Societies



7 Lunch

Lunch

8 Precalculus - H

AB or BC Calculus

9 Elective

Elective


This student has an interest and academic strength in the Humanities as well as language. They have chosen to study Language and Literature and History of the Americas at the IB level. They have also chosen to study Higher Level French which contains a literature component.


Period Level Junior Year Senior Year 1 HL IB Biology Year 1

IB Biology Year 2





4 HL IB French Year 1

IB French Year2

5 Precalculus– R

Calculus - R

6 Lunch

Lunch

7 American Writers

8 Elective

9 Elective

Senior Program


This student has an interest and academic strength in science and math. They have chosen to pursue two higher level IB science courses in Biology and Physics as well as IB mathematics in junior year followed by BC Calculus in senior year.


Period Level Junior Year Senior Year 1 HL IB Physics Year 1

IB Physics Year 2

2 Science Lab Science Lab

3 HL IB Biology Year 1

IB Biology Year 1

4 Italian 4

Italian 5

5 SL Mathematics SL

BC Calculus

6 Fall Spring Math Lab for Elective Mathematics SL

Lunch

7 Phys Ed / Lunch

8 U.S. History

9 American Writers

Senior Program

Planning Sheet Use this to plan a two year schedule. Use the samples, previous pages, and check list as a guide.

Every Diploma Candidate must have:

One course from each group

If they are not taking a group 6 (the arts), they must take an additional course from another group.

3 Courses at the HL level (they may have 4)

3 Courses at the SL Level (they may have 2)

Theory of Knowledge


Year 1




3 SL 1 Yr





5

6

7

8

guide to the international baccalaureate at north shore

Documents